When I was longing for a bowl of creamy comfort and didn’t have either a block of imported chocolate or heavy cream in my pantry, I resorted to my favorite, pantry friendly, vanilla pudding. Here’s the recipe:

Creamy Vanilla Pudding

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

pinch of salt

2 1/2 cups whole milk

3 egg yolks, lightly beaten

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in 1/2 inch cubes

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

I used a whisk to combine the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium saucepan with a heavy bottom, then I stirred in the milk and egg yolks. I cooked the lump-free mixture, over medium heat, stirring frequently with a spatula. After five minutes, when the pudding had thickened and begun to boil, I lowered the heat and cooked the pudding for five minutes more, stirring constantly. I removed the pan from the heat, added the butter and vanilla extract, stirred until the butter had melted and was completely combined.

I transferred the pudding to four serving dishes, gently pressed a piece of plastic wrap onto the top of the pudding in three of the bowls and put them in the fridge to chill.

I topped the fourth bowl with a generous teaspoon of mini chocolate chips, sat in the rocking chair close to the wood stove and enjoyed the chocolate flecked bowl of comfort and thought about my sister. She was never convinced that tapioca was delicious, not deadly, and so, instant vanilla pudding remained her favorite comfort food.

Vanilla Pudding

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Recipe type: Dessert

Author: Carol Egbert

Prep time: 5 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 15 mins

Serves: 4

Lovely pudding with no mystery ingredients

Ingredients

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

pinch of salt

2 1/2 cups whole milk

3 egg yolks, lightly beaten

3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, cut in 1/2 inch cubes

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Combine sugar, cornstarch and salt in medium saucepan with a heavy bottom.

Stir in milk and egg yolks.

Cook, over medium heat, stirring frequently, until the pudding has thickened and begun to boil.

Lower the heat, cook the pudding for five minutes more, stirring constantly.

Remove pan from heat, add butter and vanilla extract, stir until butter has melted and is completely combined.

Transfer pudding to four serving dishes, gently pressed a piece of plastic wrap onto the top of the pudding and chill.